The Tour of Tucker County Cat 4/5 race was a mountainous 34 mile road race with two category 2 climbs at the 5mi and 29mi markers. The race started downhill, 4 miles down the same road as the final climb and finish. It became very clear the final climb to the finish was where the race was going to be won or lost, a 5 mile category 2 climb with over 1,800 vertical feet of climbing. Joe was able to team up with a couple guys from Kelly, Andrew Dunlap and Pete Bolster, and BRCC, Tom Blanks.
Being able to stay towards the front of the race from the get go served Joe well, as the front 15 broke away from the rest of the group at the start of the first category 2 climb. The climb followed several fast and technical downhill sections, where he stayed at the front to avoid any crashes from squirrelly wheels or flat tires. The group of 15 quickly identified last year's winner and decided to keep him in sight as the group began the final climb towards the finish. As expected, last year's winner made his move on the climb, where Joe was able to respond and hold his wheel or maintain a reasonable distance as they created separation from the remaining racers. Joe caught up to him at the mid-climb flat section, did some recovery "chatting", and both went back to work as the grade issued out another round of beating for the last mile. Separation was created between the two and before Joe realized it, the 200m sign appeared. Throwing down a monstrous effort, Joe was able to close the gap towards the finish, but wasn't able to overcome last year's winner, finishing at a very solid 2nd place.
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| Joe on the final climb of the Tour of Tucker County |
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